Chemical and Pharmacological Profiling of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. Ex Hornem.) Sims Focusing Antioxidant,Cytotoxic, Antidiarrheal,Hypoglycemic, and Analgesic Properties

The aim of the study was to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Sims via several in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models. A total of four compounds were identified and isolated from the methanol extract of the bark and the methanol extract of the seed pulp of W. coccinea through successive chromatographic techniques and were characterized as 3β-acetyloxy-olean-12-en-28-ol (1), wrightiadione (2), 22β-hydroxylupeol (3), and β-sitosterol (4) by spectroscopic analysis. The aqueous fraction of the bark and chloroform fraction of the fruits provided the most potent antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ = 7.22 and 4.5 µg/mL, respectively) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay compared with the standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 17.45 µg/mL). The methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract exerted anti-diarrheal activity by inhibiting 74.55 ± 0.67% and 77.78 ± 1.5% (mean ± SEM) of the diarrheal episode in mice, respectively, after four hours of loading the samples. In the hypoglycemic test, the methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract (400 mg/kg) produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the blood glucose level in mice. Both doses of the plant extracts (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) used in the study induced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in pain reaction time. The in vitro and in vivo findings were supported by the computational studies. The isolated compounds exhibited higher binding affinity compared with the standard drugs towards the active binding sites of glutathione reductase, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), kappa opioid receptor, glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3), Mu opioid receptor, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) proteins due to their potent antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diarrheal, hypoglycemic, and central and peripheral analgesic properties, respectively. The current findings concluded that W. coccinea might be a potential natural source for managing oxidative stress, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, and pain. Further studies are warranted for extensively phytochemical screening and establishing exact mechanisms of action.     

Exogenous Application of Green Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to Improve the Germination,Physiochemical, and Yield Parameters of Wheat Plants under Salinity Stress

Agriculture is the backbone of every developing country. Among various crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the family Poaceae and is the most important staple food crop of various countries. Different biotic (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic stresses (water logging, drought and salinity) adversely affect the qualitative and quantitative attributes of wheat. Among these stresses, salinity stress is a very important limiting factor affecting the morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes and grain yield of wheat. This research work was carried out to evaluate the influence of phytosynthesized TiO₂ NPs on the germination, physiochemical, and yield attributes of wheat varieties in response to salinity. TiO₂ NPs were synthesized using TiO₂ salt and a Buddleja asiatica plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. Various concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) and salt solutions (NaCl) (100 and 150 mM) were used. A total of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L improve germination attributes, osmotic and water potential, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content, soluble sugar and proteins, proline and amino acid content, superoxide dismutase activity, and reduce malondialdhehyde (MDA) content at both levels of salinity. These two concentrations also improved the yield attributes of wheat varieties at both salinity levels. The best results were observed at 40 mg/L of TiO₂ NPs at both salinity levels. However, the highest concentrations (60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO₂ NPs showed negative effects on germination, physiochemical and yield characteristics and causes stress in both wheat varieties under control irrigation conditions and salinity stress. Therefore, in conclusion, the findings of this research are that the foliar application of TiO₂ NPs can help to improve tolerance against salinity stress in plants.     

Enhanced infrared transmission through subwavelength coaxial metallic arrays

We report the observation of enhanced near-infrared transmission through arrays of subwavelength coaxial metallic structures compared with that through comparable diameter hole arrays as a result of localized electromagnetic modes supported by the complex coaxial unit cell. Polarization and angle-dependent transmission measurements clearly demonstrate the coupling between this localized mode and delocalized surface plasmon modes. A generalized, multiple discrete states Fano line shape provides a good fit to the experimental results.     

PVP Assisted Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Self-Assembled 1D ZnO and 3D CuO Nanostructures

Self-assembled one-dimensional (1D) zinc oxide (ZnO) rods and three-dimensional (3D) cupric oxide (CuO) cubes like nanostructures with a mean crystallite size of approximately 33 and 32 nm were synthesized through chemical route in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) under mild synthesis conditions. The technique used for the synthesis of nanoparticles seems to be an efficient, inexpensive and easy method. X-Ray diffraction patterns confirmed well crystallinity and phase purity of the as prepared samples, followed by the compositional investigation using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The formation of ZnO nanorods and CuO nanocubes like structures were through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The mechanism and the formation factors of the self-assembly were discussed in detail. It was clearly observed from results that the concentration of precursors and PVP were important factors in the synthesis of self-assembly ZnO and CuO nanostructures. These self-assembly nanostructures maybe used as novel materials in various potential applications.     

Impact of Internal Heat Source on Mixed Convective Transverse Transport of Viscoplastic Material under Viscosity Variation

This communication addresses the impact of heat source/sink along with mixed convection on oblique flow of Casson fluid having variable viscosity. Similarity analysis has been utilized to model governing equations, which are simplified to set of nonlinear differential equations. Computational procedure of shooting algorithm along with 4th order Range-Kutta-Fehlberg scheme is opted to attain the velocity and temperature distributions. Impact of imperative parameters on Casson fluid flow, temperature, significant physical quantities such as skin friction, local heat flux and streamlines are displayed via graphs.     

An Update on Synthesis of Coumarin Sulfonamides as Enzyme Inhibitors and Anticancer Agents

Coumarin is an important six-membered aromatic heterocyclic pharmacophore, widely distributed in natural products and synthetic molecules. The versatile and unique features of coumarin nucleus, in combination with privileged sulfonamide moiety, have enhanced the broad spectrum of biological activities. The research and development of coumarin, sulfonamide-based pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry have become active topics, and attracted the attention of medicinal chemists, pharmacists, and synthetic chemists. Coumarin sulfonamide compounds and analogs as clinical drugs have been used to cure various diseases with high therapeutic potency, which have shown their enormous development value. The diversified and wide array of biological activities such as anticancer, antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant and anti-viral, etc. were displayed by diversified coumarin sulfonamides. The present systematic and comprehensive review in the current developments of synthesis and the medicinal chemistry of coumarin sulfonamide-based scaffolds give a whole range of therapeutics, especially in the field of oncology and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. In the present review, various synthetic approaches, strategies, and methodologies involving effect of catalysts, the change of substrates, and the employment of various synthetic reaction conditions to obtain high yields is cited.     

Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Associated with Halophytic Weed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psoralea corylifolia</Emphasis> L) on Germination and Seedling Growth of Wheat Under Saline Conditions

Halotolerant bacteria associated with Psoralea corylifolia L., a luxuriantly growing annual weed in salinity-affected semi-arid regions of western Maharashtra, India were evaluated for their plant growth-promoting activity in wheat. A total of 79 bacteria associated with different parts viz., root, shoot and nodule endophytes, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and leaf epiphytes, were isolated and grouped based on their habitat. Twelve bacteria isolated for their potential in plant growth promotion were further selected for in vitro studies. Molecular identification showed the presence of the genera Bacillus, Pantoea, Marinobacterium, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Sinorhizobium (LC027447-53; LC027455; LC027457, LC027459, and LC128410). The phylogenetic studies along with carbon source utilization profiles using the Biolog® indicated the presence of novel species and the in planta studies revealed promising results under salinity stress. Whereas the nodule endophytes had minute plant growth-promoting (PGP) activity, the cell free culture filtrates of these strains enhanced seed germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum L). The maximum vigor index was monitored in isolate Y7 (Enterobacter sp strain NIASMVII). Indole acetic acid (IAA) production by the isolates ranged between 0.22 and 25.58 μg mL^?1. This signifies the need of exploration of their individual metabolites for developing next-generation bio-inoculants through co-inoculation with other compatible microbes. This study has potential in utilization of the weed-associated microbiome in terms of alleviation of salinity stress in crop plants.     

New asymmetric N2S2 macrocycles,their metal chelates and the photokinetics of DNA-complex interaction

New asymmetric ligands have been synthesized by condensing o-phenylene diamine with CS₂ and PhCHO/MeCHO, and their complexes with Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, i.r., u.v.–vis., e.p.r. and n.m.r. spectra. The transition metals in the complexes show square planar geometry and are ionic. Photokinetic studies of the DNA-metal complexes [C₁₀H₁₀S₄N₂Cu](NO₃)₂ and [C₁₀H₁₀S₄N₂Ni](NO₃)₂ were carried out and the rate constants k_{(DNA-complex)} were calculated. The results indicate that DNA reacts with the metal complex in two steps. DNA first undergoes structural degradation and is then completely hydrolysed as indicated by spectral changes consistent with earlier results. The asymmetric N₂S₂ macrocyclic metal complexes show a strong propensity for DNA inhibition and can be used as an intercalating binding model.     

Optimization of process parameters and its effect on structure and morphology of CuO nanoparticle synthesized via the sol−gel technique

This article describes systematic basic research on the optimization of the processing parameters of sol?gel technique for synthesis of the high purity CuO nanoparticles. Effect of the synthesis parameters such as copper salt concentration, solvent and gelating agent, optimized one at a time, was investigated by employing XRD, TEM, FESEM, micro-Raman, UV-visible-NIR and PL spectroscopies. XRD results clearly demonstrate the monoclinic structure of CuO nanoparticles with traceable impurities at a lower molar concentration of Cu²⁺, transition of nucleation system from homogeneous to heterogeneous state with the increase in concentration of Cu²⁺ from 0.05 to 0.15?M. It was also found that the isopropyl alcohol offers better results in comparison to ethanol and water. Moreover, the lattice parameters, space group, and crystal system were determined by powder X-ray diffraction method. Further we propose the optimization of synthesis process using ethylene glycol and citric acid (EG:CA). The Raman analysis confirmed the influence of ethylene glycol and citric acid ratio and TEM observations confirmed that EG:CA 1:2 ratio formulate homogenous flower-like nanostructures. The optical absorption of CuO nanostructures can be easily tuned by varying the concentration of citric acid without changing other conditions; it shows the role of synthesis parameters more significant. Our results suggest that the prepared CuO nanostructures have a potential to be used as absorbing material in solar cell applications.

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Exploration of structural and physicochemical properties of small molecules to inhibit NMDA functionality

Structural Chemistry - The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is the family of glutamate receptor, which is involved in controlling synaptic plasticity and memory function; but overactivation of this...